Couperman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 (edited) and said that there were allotments available near us! I will phone tomorrow to organise a look see. Horaah we've only been on the waiting list for five months! :D Kev. Edited May 28, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Ooooh! - I hope you manage to find one which is ready to go - that would be brilliant...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 I am not normally that lucky but the man said there are a number that have become available so you never know. The plots are about 5 mins walk from us and if I remember rightly they are massive. So we intend to share it with my brother and his wife to make it manageable. I'm all excited now. I am just waiting for the guy to phone me back to arrange a site visit. I might go and have a quick nosey Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Great news Kev! I'm still waiting for the council to give us the go ahead to start using ours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Having an allotment is great, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 That's brilliant news Kev - piccies please when you get a chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 I have just nipped down and had a butchers at it. it is HUGE 1/17th of acre and there is already a massive rhubarb patch and what looks like a huge blackcurrant thicket type thing. The drawbacks are; It needs a lot of weeding doing. There are some carrots already in and they have all been gotten by carrot fly. You are not allowed to have a shed or a greenhouse on there, I don't know what that's about It is also situated in a public park so it's not very secure and may get a bit of unwanted attention from vandals and the like. But I will take Cathy and my Sister in law down there later and see what they think. I will have to send my brother some photo's he is at sea at the minute. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 No shed?? How odd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Hmmm.....no shed is a bit of a drawback. What is access like as you will have to cart your tools too and fro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Are you allowed to have compost heaps there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 My allotment also does not allow sheds... means a lot of carry back and forth as I have raised beds in the back garden as well as 1/2 size plot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 Are you allowed to have compost heaps there? Yes you are allowed compost heaps. You are not allowed to erect any structure that is higher than the 4 ft perimeter fence for some reason, barmy isn't it? I think a lot of the plots are kept by people whose houses back onto them, they have a shed on their own land that opens onto the plot. Sneaky eh I think we may go for an Anderson air raid shed half buried with a turfed roof If we decide to take it on I will probably just knock up a little lockable tool store about 4ft high and a few coldframes too. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Ahhh, that'll be planning permission, so you can't live there then! I'm sure that a couple of lockable tool sheds will be fine though - good job you're handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 Hmmm.....no shed is a bit of a drawback. What is access like as you will have to cart your tools too and fro. Access is very good, there is an alleyway from the road that leads right up to it, so you can park about 30ft away. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Hmmm.....no shed is a bit of a drawback. What is access like as you will have to cart your tools too and fro. Access is very good, there is an alleyway from the road that leads right up to it, so you can park about 30ft away. Kev. Oh good. That is the major obstacle dealt with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Dilly has an allotment like that -it's enormous, just 5 mins walk from her house, and she can drive there if need be. They are allowed sheds though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 I think with the plot being so accessible a shed would get broken into by the local pondlife anyway The tool store will need to be disguised to look just like a compost heap Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Has it got a water supply? Maybe you could make a combined tool store/seat arrangement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Ooh good luck with that. We love our allotment. We havn't got a shed yet, but it's literally across the road from us and I have a power tryke with a huge basket We're not technically allowed sheds, but everyone else seems to have one! I think a storage seat type thing would be a good idea to keep the essentials in. We've got a good book called "the half hour allotment" which helps busy people prioritise their time working a plot and advises on planting eg advising you to grow things which you love and are expensive in the shops rather than half a field of maincrop potatoes and runner beans! One of the first things we did was to organise an asparagus bed and we're looking forward to reaping the rewards next year. I've also got some globe artichokes growing to start a bed next year - yum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 I have just been to take a few photos with Cathy and SIL. We have decided to take on the mammoth task As you can see it needs a little work Does anyone have a JCB I could borrow for about six months There is a water supply by the front gate. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Looks wonderful Kev and it appears you are the 'lucky man' this time round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 (edited) i'm really pleased for you. Do you remember the disused allotment i took photos of and asked the council about? Didn;t get a reply so I chased them up about it today and got the following reply... "Please accept my apologies for not replying sooner. This is the current situation with plot 5 : Although your offer to take on this plot in its current condition is commendable, we have to follow a clear and transparent procedure in offering vacant plots in the chronological order people appear on our waiting list. For information, we currently have in excess of 30 people registered for an allotment and we are in the process of terminating the current tenant and offering the plot out to the next person on the waiting list. We do undertake inspections three times a year, however this particular plot has been rather problematic to say the least. Our procedures to manage the allotments are a little long winded, however we have to give new tenants a period of time in which to commence cultivation. If no progress is being shown, we are then in a lengthy process of either improvement letters, or in the most serious cases; termination. As this is a legal process, it does take time to reach a satisfactory outcome. We also experience more delays in receiving a response from those offered a plot for a multitude of reasons. Many people move house, do not contact us with a forwarding address, are no longer interested in a plot or do not respond to offer letters, etc etc. We do our best to ensure that plots are taken as quickly as possible, however it is frustrating for us that sometimes our procedures go awry due to the actions of others. I hope you understand." looks like we're in for quite a wait, you've been lucky! keep us updated on its progress, would love to see some more photos once you get cracking. Edited May 14, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted May 14, 2008 Author Share Posted May 14, 2008 we spoke with the guy in the plot next door and he said that there were at least another six plots that were vacant He said the council allotment crew weren't exactly a well oiled machine. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Great news Kev Better borrow a rotavator! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 You may need some help with that! I'd very much like to see progress pictures as you go along. What are you most excited about growing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
